Tag: Children

You go to school and sing nursery rhymes,
I hide in corners at the sound of bomb shells;You hug your siblings and say “good night”,
I hurdle with my sister on a mat in utter terror;
You go to sleep with a story read to you,
I go to bed praying it wouldn’t be my last night;You stroll into town waving at trams,
I run on lonely paths away from fighter jets;
You decorate your house with pictures and flowers,
My house decorations are shrapnels and bullets holes;You walk on paved streets, with street lights shining,
I walk on streets littered with dead bodies, sometimes in the dark;
Your world is surrounded by beautiful houses,
Mine is surrounded by ravaged and collapsed buildings;
You have your mama, papa, sister, brother, cousin,…
I only have my grandma, my parents died from airstrikes;
You eat breakfast, snacks, lunch, snacks, dinner, supper…
Well, I eat when I find food, if I find food;Your best friends are Sally, Tom and Tim,
My daily companions are hunger, fear, poverty and pain
You buried your loved one and it makes you sad
I’ve buried my friends and families, it hurts everyday;
You cry sometimes, throw tantrums and act silly
I cry all the time, I hurt all the time, I’m getting tired of life;I didn’t chose my family, I didn’t choose my home,
If I had a choice…, I wish I had a choice…,
I know, I just want to have a normal childhood.

I am a Syrian child,
I am a casualty of war.
My name is Fazia and it means successful.
What an irony!

Like this:

What’s in a pack of crisps?
Baked potatoes, salt, etc
What’s in a pack of crisps?
I’m not sure but,
I think there’s something inside it
That makes it so appealing to kids
And their sugar-coated tastebuds
But then,
Crisps are salted, so
What’s in a pack of crisps?
I don’t know, I wish I do

But what I do know is this-
Most children love crisps,
My children absolutely, definitely
Emphatically, categorically love crisps

My toddler, enjoying a pack of crisps, relaxed, with his leg on the table.

When the tantrums scream
Or the sad faces sulk
When there’s a fight for toys
Or whose tv channel to watch
Out and about on a sunny day
Or during the sermon in the church
When all my hugging and all my cooing
Doesn’t seem to appease
I pop out a bag of crisps
And suddenly, all is well
Then I can talk and reason
As they listen in silence
And munch their crisps

What’s in a pack of crisps
That makes it so appealing to kids
I really would like to know

Like this:

Mayhem broke loose, youngsters crying
Families desperate for answers, for help
The injured smeared in blood; in pain, and helpless;
My city in shock, confusion and disarray
Bodies scattered, life oozing out sadly so
Emergency services in frantic redemptive scurries
Eyewitnesses recounting the horror

Don’t go to school, there may a suicide attack
Don’t go to church, there may a suicide attack
Don’t go to a concert…
Don’t go to a football match…
Don’t go to town…
Don’t go to the mall…
Don’t go to the work…
Don’t go to anywhere… there may a suicide attack
We must not allow ourselves to live in fear
Fear leads to bondage and unhealthy distrust

A war of twisted ideologies and religious fanaticism
Undermining our usual way of living and existence
How do you combat such extremism and radicalism?
How do you fight such war?
How?

At 12:50am this morning, I got a distant call from one of our family friends in Nigeria, he called to make sure we were safe. I was confused, and asked him why he asked. He said, “There’s been an attack on Manchester it’s on the news”. I tuned on BBC News and witnessed the terror as shock spread across my face and tears welled up my eyes. Young children screaming in panic, parents searching for their children… all these was happening in my town.

How do we wage war on twisted ideologies? It’s a mind game. How do you know what people are thinking about? And sometimes like this one, it’s calculated, planned and purposely executed. How do you prevent such attacks?

As you read this, please remember our city in your prayers. In the words of our Mayor Andy Burnham, “We are grieving, we are strong, we are together.”

Like this:

He cleared some old papers
From his desk
A blue paper fell off
He picked it, and opened it;
It was a drawing
One of his daughter’s drawings
Tears welled up his eyes
As he held the paper
Close to his chest
Lips trembling, heart aching
Heart yearning

“I’m not ready
To say my final goodbye
Because
I’m still waiting
For you
To open that door
And say
Daddy, I’m home”

He knew he would
Run ten thousand miles
Walk to the ends of the earth
Do everything, anything possible
If that would bring
Daddy’s little girl
Home
Alive and well

The worst nightmare for any family is to lose a child through kidnapping. It’s a nightmare worse than death no one would wish for their worst enemy. The uncertainty, the regrets, the should haves and would haves; such a burden is too heavy for anyone to bear.

I’m lighting this candle of hope, praying for families like the family of Madeleine Mccann who turned 14yrs yesterday the May 12th. Join me and say a quiet prayer that the good and merciful Lord will bring their lost children home safely. Amen.

May the dreams, desires and hopes of these families in pain be a reality, may it be achieved; for every dream we desire and aspire for can be achieved, Amen.

Like this:

Nature abhors a vacuum.
-If we don’t stand up for something, we will fall for anything.
-If we don’t make effort to teach our children, someone else will teach them.
-If we don’t make out time for our families, someone or something else will make time for them.
-If we don’t fill our life with the appropriate things, inappropriate things will seep into it and take over them.
-If we don’t fill our time with something useful, something else will fill it up.
-If we don’t make extra effort to fulfill our dreams and destinies, we will settle for less.
Nature abhors a vacuum.

Like this:

in a room filled with babies
crying, playing…
if my baby cries…
in the midst of all the noise
i will hear his cry
i will recognise his voice

in a house with lots of ladies
giggling, chatting…
if my mama calls…
in the midst of all the laughter
i will hear her call
i will recognise her voice

i will know his voice
i will recognise her calls
because,
he is always close to me
because,
i have a continuous relationship with her

in the midst of all the noise
the murmurs, the callings…
of self-will and worldly lust
if God calls to me
if His Spirit speaks to me
i will hear His Voice…
i will discern His Words…if i always draw close to Him
if i have a continuous relationship with Him
this… i cannot deny

Like this:

This post was shared by one of my friends and I decided to share it on my blog today.

💡While there is little you can do about your ancestors, there is something that you can do about your descendants. One thing that prevents a man from being a good father is that he hasn’t completed being a boy. To be in your childrens’ memory tomorrow, you have to be in their lives’ today. Having children doesn’t make you a father. Raising them does.

💡There are many of us who were raised up in unstable families but we don’t have to pass it on to our children. We don’t have to fight in the presence of our children. We can choose to shield their emotions from our disputes as adults.

💥To a large extent, you are a product of your early relationships

💡Unstable parents most times create insecure children. Stable parents most times raise stable children. Children need affection (hugs,), attention (listening) and affirmation (positive words), every day. When a man loves his wife, it creates security and stability. The best gift a father can give his children is to love their mother.

💥Children learn how to handle feelings, losses, failure and conflicts at home.

💡Regrettably, parenting can neither be delegated nor suspended for a while as we work for the ring of fame and fortune. The growth of children is irreversible. Like a young tree, it takes the bends directed by the gardener, so is the life of a child. You can’t shape it in adulthood; you can’t pick it from where you left after you reach the top in your career pursuits.

💥It’s always easier to model young boys than to rehabilitate grown up men.

💡If you invest in your child, you don’t have to invest for your child. Children require presence not presents. No amount of gifts and meeting financial obligations can replace your personal presence. Any written will can be torn in a few years after the demise of the writer of the will.

💥The only sure inheritance that you can leave behind is the investment you make IN your child not FOR your child.

Like this:

Over the years you became friendly with a couple, Johnny and Maggie. They had no child of their own. You were very supportive to them throughout their years of pain and struggle. They finally decided and adopted a beautiful baby girl whom they totally adored and gave the best of the best.

Several donkey years down the line, at the age of 75, Johnny suffered divers severe health challenges and his life gradually deteriorated. Consequently, he spent his last years in the hospital. One particular evening, surrounded by his ageing wife Maggie, their adopted daughter Leah and her children, and you as well, Johnny was very happy and content with his loved ones around. As everyone waved jolly good byes, Johnny managed and told you to wait for some minutes.

When you came back, he said, “Ellie, please tell Maggie I’m sorry”.
“What do you mean by that, Johnny?”, you asked looking perplexed.
“Listen”, he began. “Leah is truly my daughter, I arranged for her to be adopted into my family. It was only a one night stand but I’ve lived with the guilt all these years and I want to go away in peace.” Ignoring your wide-eyed look he continued, “Her real mother was a model and didn’t want to keep her. Having Leah has been a source of untold joy to us and great pain for me. If only she came from Maggie but, I just couldn’t let her real mother remove the pregnancy. So…, I took care of all the expenses. Please, tell Maggie I’m sorry I betrayed and cheated on her sweet soul, tell her to forgive me,… and to continue to give Leah her best love”.
“But Johnny…” you said, not that you really had anything else to say but Johnny raised his hands and signalled you to stop. Then, he closed his eyes and said, “I need to rest, I’m tired. Make sure you tell Maggie this painful truth, please. I just couldn’t bear the look on her face if I’d told her myself “. With a sigh of relief, he closed his eyes to sleep.

You left his hospital bed, in a state of bewilderment and shock. Next morning, still trying to figure out how to tackle the gloomy task, your phone rang. It was Maggie. You hesitated but finally picked the phone. “Ellie”, she said, her voice sounding frail at the of the receiver, “Ellie, he’s gone. My dear Johnny is gone…” she sobbed softly. Tears streamed down your face as you realised how daunting your task will be.

If you were Ellie what will you do?
Will you be sincere with your best friend Maggie and tell her the truth in honour of a dead man’s last wish?
Or will you shield her from the truth by keeping quiet, hence not disturbing her sweet memories of her late husband and letting her mourn him peacefully?

Like this:

Looking at this picture, it reminded me of how as a child, I used to play in the rain with my friends. We ran up and down the little street in shorts and dresses; we jumped, screamed, danced, played, splashed and did whatever silly thing that came to our minds. I know many of us who were born in the 70s and 80s will relate to this and will agree with me that it was fun!

Like this:

Motherhood: As I reminince on my life, I realise God has given me a wonderful life and an amazing husband. And when I remember my two honey bunny baby boys, I simply thank God for the gift of motherhood- they are my cherries on top!

Like this:

As toddlers and children: you hug them, peck them on the cheek as you say goodbye on a school run. They hug you back, shout “love you mummy!” as they scuttle down to their classes.

As teens: you approach them to hug them, they put up their hands in protest, reluctantly give you a quick hug while glancing around hoping none of their friends saw them. You try to peck them on the cheek, they quickly move back with a “Mum!, you’re embarrassing me”. You just chuckle within you as you remember you were once like them.

Like this:

Playful–
Such a jolly word!
A common attribute in children
Brings humour into friendships
And happiness into the heart
Everyone having a good laugh
Jokes, smiles, having so much fun
Leaves no room for grudges
Friends are made with ease
Tensions are sure released
Playful people are always likeable
Pessimists hardly make friendsPlayful–
Such a happy word.

Like this:

She gives up her name to answer his name
Even though some do retain their maiden names.
Still she gives up her identity somehow;
She gives up her body to bear his babies-
Passes through the inevitable popular 9 month seasons of morning sickness, bloating, constipation, body disfiguring, sleepless nights, demanding attractive partner, silly noisy adorable children, etc. etc. etc.
Which culminates into excruciating labour pains, c-sections, episiotomy, epidural, birth complications, incessant hospital visits,.. until the baby is born… Wow!
Most times, with the demands of childcare she changes her job and puts her career on hold;
She gives in her time to go to work;
She comes back from work and resumes housework/children work- cleaning and cooking, hoovering and dusting, laundry and ironing, assisting with homework, amidst scolding and shouting, loving and caring, quarrels and tantrums, stories at bedtime, hugs and kisses etc etc etc
She ends all that and then, sometimes, resumes marital conjugal duties that same night… Wow!
She hardly gets a “me, myself and I” time; and the next morning the cycle begins again!

I bet you are asking, “Why and how does she do these? What motivates her?”
As a mother, I know the reason behind this is summed up in one word- Love.
The unconditional, unconventional, dynamic, incomprehensible, sacrificial, amazing and wonderful love of a mother.